By Greg Moore

Fire department training divisions should include some input from the mechanical division. As a mechanic, I can’t teach someone the proper way to put out a fire. I’m not trained for that. In the same breath, firefighters aren’t expected to know how the equipment they use works mechanically. Although firefighters don’t need to understand how to fix the equipment, a general understanding of how something works affects how they use it.

Here is a real-life example:

A while back, I had an issue where I would hear crew members grinding the gears whenever doing a road-to-pump shift (incorrect shift procedure). I heard every reason for why this won’t and can’t cause damage. I’m not one to argue. I like to teach. So, one day I was rebuilding a pump transmission. I decided to make a YouTube video (below) on how exactly it works and what happens when you pull that pump shift lever. Unofficially, the crews started watching it. I had positive feedback on that video. Crews started telling me that they had no idea the noise they were hearing was actually metal on metal damage occurring to the pump transmission. Seeing it really made them think and slow down when making pump shifts. I have not rebuilt a pump transmission since.

So, sometimes that little but of knowledge can make all the difference. The same is true for me. I will never be a firefighter but I ask the crews to teach me how to use the equipment every day so I know how it’s supposed to sound, feel, and perform when it is operating correctly so I can better fix it when it’s broken.